SAI Mauritius, under the guidance of AFROSAI-E, conducted a performance audit of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security and entities operating under its aegis. The auditors assessed measures to enhace food security and sustainable agricultural practices with respect to SDG 2 “Zero Hunger” over the period from January 2016 to December 2023. Despite significant expenditure by the Ministry in 2016–2020 (some 4.8 billion rupees or about USD 105 million), auditors noted no marked improvement in strengthening the agriculture sector. None of the targets set in respect of selected food crops was attained, and actual production per crop item fell below estimates. Audit identified performance gaps, including poorly defined targets, the lack of accountability for results, outstanding reforms and projects and inadequate monitoring of the progress, as well as weaknesses in the Ministry’s organizational set-up and insufficient collaboration among the Ministry and the relevant stakeholders. SAI Mauritius made a number of recommendations including the setting up of an autonomous structure responsible for the formulation of policies and plans relating to food security and sustainable agricultural practices; driving institutional reforms and monitoring performance; and holding respective stakeholders accountable for their assigned responsibilities.

SAI Argentina conducted an audit of the activities of the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity (Ministerio de las Mujeres, Géneros y Diversidad) in terms of compliance with the regulatory framework governing gender inequality and labor relations, as well as the promotion of cultural policies in support of equality. The verification period included 2019–2021. The agency was established in 2019 and assumed the functions of the National Institute of Women (Instituto Nacional de la Mujer, INAM), which existed from 2017 to 2019. The auditors highly praised the reliable legal framework in the field of social inequality and noted that since the establishment of the Ministry, resources allocated to measures to combat gender-based violence have increased significantly. In addition, the auditors identified a number of deficiencies and violations: weak coordination between different agencies; inability to assess achievement of the goals of National Action Plans due to the lack of criteria for assessing progress and baseline indicators for comparing results. The SAI recommended that the Ministry eliminate the identified deficiencies.

SAI Cabo Verde conducted a performance audit* of the state policy on protected areas (PAs) in achieving targets for the protection of terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas. The audit coverage period was from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022. Audit results showed that the targets were partially achieved. Auditors found that some PAs lacked their own administrative centers, management plans and planning tools for monitoring and combating environmental emergencies, as well as material resources for these purposes. SAI noted shortage of technical specialists; absence of a budget detailed for each protected area; inconsistencies in geographical delineation of PAs; lack of dedicated research support structures in most PAs; low level of participation of local communities in decision-making on improving protected area management and sustainable use of natural resources. SAI recommended adjusting boundaries of PAs, updating management plans, continuing to recruit more security guards at checkpoints, introducing technological protection measures, providing faster and more transparent access to accounting data by creating cost centers for each protected area, and providing PAs with the ability to generate financial resources and implement tools that will enable them to generate their own income. _________________________________ * The activity is part of a coordinated international audit led by the Brazil Federal Court of Accounts and conducted in accordance with the Strategic Plan 2017–2022 of the SAIs of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.

SAI Kenya conducted a performance audit of the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation’s (the Ministry) measures to enable the continuity and timely completion of the Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program (the Program), a government initiative comprising 48 projects. The audit coverage period was from January 2016 to July 2022. The Ministry managed to ensure the continuity of the Program, with some projects completed as per the expected timelines. However, auditors identified a number of limitations that may hinder the full implementation of the Program: - failure to take program timelines into consideration during the processing of subsidiary loan agreements; - delays and erratic nature in processing of tax exemptions; - failure by the Ministry to provide timely access to land or wayleaves; - failure by the Ministry to ensure the timely approval of statutory approvals and licenses; - inefficiency in ensuring optimal realization of projects gains; - failure by the Ministry to ensure the preparedness of stakeholders, in order to allow for efficient Program implementation. SAI Kenya’s recommendations focused on addressing identified violations, such as streamlining the tax exemption process; avoiding duplications in oversight procedures in the payment processing; implementing a simplified direct payment channel between the implementer and the financier; mapping out all riparian land intended for future use, and acquiring key sites before commencement of any construction works.

SAI The Gambia conducted a performance audit on telecommunications service delivery by the state-owned limited liability company the Gambia Telecommunications Company Limited (GAMTEL). The audit cause was a significant decline in GAMTEL performance: poor governance, financial mismanagement, improper spending, and state interference in the operations and management. During the period spanning from 2019 to 2022, auditors discovered the following: - lack of necessary infrastructure to keep up with the increasing demand for broadband connectivity; - delays in responding to customers' service interruption: the absence of a Fault Management Information System and mobility issues; - inadequate administrative framework and debt management infrastructure; - ineffective monitoring of GAMTEL branches and exchange. SAI's recommendations were to eliminate the identified deficiencies by urgently expanding network coverage by building more fibre access terminals and upgrading technology; implementing an automated fault management system to enhance coordination; developing a comprehensive strategic plan; and establishing branch and exchange monitoring schedules for regional managers.